Drive mechanism



Jan. 10, 1939. c. E. STEWART 4 2,143,115

DRIVE MECHANISM Filed June 3, 1936 BEEIT- iF- 20 Reference is made tothe accompanying drawis a clutch member I having a coned periphery 20 25Fig. 2'is .a detail view of the fluid coup-ling Between the driverli andthe member i are op- 25 gear D.

, 40 gear 2 and between the bearings 22 a one way nd the d er 0 he flColiplilig is t e- 40 Patented Jan. 10. 1939 v r 2,143,115

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nerve MECHANISM v Charles E. Stewart,Verdun; Quebec, Canada Application June 3,1936, Serial No. 83,319

4 Claims. (01. 74-1895) This invention rleates to the transmission ofThese are journalled on the sleeve 5 by the power from a prime mover tothe wheels of an bearings 52 and 53. A wide gear 42.is secured toautomobile and particularly to mechanism the flange ring 4| and mesheswith the pinion 3| whereby an automatic variable speed transmisof thesleeve 3!) .on the countershaft 3. The outer 5 sion is provided. end 80of the gear box 8 is journalled on hearing 5 Its object is to provide anovel means of driv- B2 on the sleeve 40.

ing a pair of'wheels through a single axle and Extending inwardly fromthe disc 4 is a brake thereby eliminating the usual differential gear.drum 43 while outwardly is the tire seat 44. A further object is toprovide an automatic Y Bolted to the seat 44 is the runner member 46transmission to each wheelincluding'reduction of a Fottinger fluidcoupling journalled by-bear- 1o gear and clutches to cut out thereduction gear. ing 41 on the end of the axle l.

A further object is to provide overrunning A screw cap 49 holds a thrusthearing it and clutches to both highand low speed drives. an oil seal 48in place. The invention comprises a single axle driven The outer end ofthe sleeve 5 is splined and the through a clutch from a prime mover, theaxle driver member E-of the fluid coupling mounted on 15 having a gearbox and clutch at each end for the splines.

each wheel; In the gear boxes are reduction and Within the wheel a conedsurface'45 extends reversing gear and in the wheels areautomatic fromthe disc 4. clutches co-operating with the gear. Mounted betweenthe'driver 5 and the disc 4 ing in which: 12 to seat in the surface 45of the wheel. The Figure, lis a vertical sectionthrough the axis memberI is loosely mounted on the sleeve 5. A of the axle showing themechanism of the right coil springs ll about the sleeve 5 presses thehand wheel. member I outwards to keep the cone clutch open.

connections. posed inclined jaws 60 and 10, whereby the driver Figure 3is aplan view'of the assembly. 6 can force the member 1 against thepressure The'axle l is driven from a prime mover A of the spring II andcause the cone clutch to "through the usual clutch B, shaft C andsuitable close.

To provide a reverse drive, a spindle journalled The end 'of the gearbox8-from which the axle in the gearbox 8 parallel to the countershaft 3casing 8| extends is journalled on the axle l by carries a gear inconstant mesh with the gear 42 hearing I3. Beyond this bearing a one wayand an idler 9; Y clutch I2 is keyed to the axle l. v The pinion 3| canbe moved to leave the gear A sleeve l0 journalled at l4 on the axle Ihas v4 and mesh w t e idler 9 by Sl di g he Sleeve 35 flange bearingon'the clutch i2, and apinion Ii. 30 on'the splined countershaft 3 bymeans of the Journal ledin bearings 33 in the gear box 8 is a usualforked lever operating the grooved ring 35. counter'shaft 3'on which asleeve 30 is splined; When this movement takes place the teeth 2|Bearings 22 on the sleeve 30 journal the double of the gear 2 leave thepinion 50 of the sleeve 5 clutch 23 is mounted to couple the sleeve 30to tated. The reverse drive is therefore entirely the gear 2 through thereduction gear and at low speed.

The sleeve 30 has a pinion 3|. While the form, as shown and described,of A grooved ring 35 secured to the sleeve 30 prothe clutch to cut outthe low speed drive of the vides means to slide the sleeve 30 on thesplined reduction e r is a fluid c p o t e Ot- 45 countershaft 3. tingtype. I- do not limit' my invention to this One set ofteeth 20 on thegear 2 are double form. Centrifugal clutches operated by weights thewidth of the pinion II with which they mesh. u d be su st tu d fluidupling. Beyond the sleeve I0 is journalled on'bearing 5| The variationof the speed of rotation of the asleeve 5. A thrustbearing ,l5 ismounted betwo wheels in turning or rounding a curve is pro- 50 tween thesleeves I Band 5. The sleeve 5 has a d d for 11111118 B se Ofa low speeddrive by the pinion 50 meshing with the teeth 2! of'- the overrunningclutch 23 on the sleeve 30 of the gear 2. countershaft 3. w The disc 4of the wheel has a sleeve 40 secured In the case of a drive at highspeed the overto a flanged ring 41. running clutch 12 on the axle I willaccommodate a variation in the speed of rotation of the two wheels.

In both cases the inner wheel becomes the drive wheel and the outerwheel can overrun the drive speed.

In starting and at low speed the drive from the axle to the wheel frameis through the double reduction gear. That is from the pinion II to thegear 2, and from the pinion II to the gear 42. The runner 48 is at thesame speed as the wheel.

Theglriver I starts at axle speed and slips past the slow runner. As thefluid coupling gradually closes the speed of the runner increases andgradually cuts out the reduction drive, the sleeve ll overrunning thegear 2.

The clutch member I is held by the coil spring II to free the cone IIfrom the cone surface 45 till a predetermined speed is reached by thedriver By increasing the speed of the axle, the jaws 8| slide forward onthe Jaws Ill and force the member I outwards against the pressure of thespring Ii to close the cone clutch.

The drive is then at axle speed. As the speed decreases the reverseprocess takes place. The spring ll opens the cone clutch and the slipbetween the driver and runner increases. The reduction drive isgradually cut in.

As these changes take place automatically and are brought about by thedecreasing or increasing of slippage between the clutch members, thereis no violent strain on the parts.

The control of the drive speed is by the accelerator and main clutch tothe axle and the brake ystem.

While this invention is adaptable to the present assembly of a mainshaft from the engine at the front of the chassis, it is especiallysuited to an assembly with the engine adjacent to the axle.

Furthermore the weight of the gear boxes on the axle will tend toincrease the traction of the tires. The elimination of differential gearwill not only obviate skidding, but will prevent a car from beingstalled by one wheel spinning in a mud hole.

What I claim is:-

1. Drive mechanism for automobiles comprising an axle driven through aclutch from a prime mover, wheels journalled on each end of the axle,gear boxes to each wheel journalled about the axle, a countershaftjournalled in each gear box carrying reduction gear between the axle andthewheeLaonewaychitchinthereduction gear, a fluid coupling of theFottinger type having driver and runner members, the runner membersecured to the wheel, the driver member eonnectedtotheaxle,aclutchbetweenthedriverg memberand the wheel andaonewayelutchbetween theaxle and the driver member.

2.Inadriveforautomoblles,the combination of a prime mover, a main shaft,a clutch, bevel gear, an axle forming a single drive shaft, a fluidcoupling of the l 'ottinger type having driver and runner members, adrive shaft coupled to a prime mover by a clutch. reduction gear betweenthe drive shaft and the runner, including a disc with a coned surfacearound the driver, a sleeve. lournalled on the drive shaft splined tothe driver, means to couple the sleeve to the drive shaft, a one wayclutch in the reduction gear, a clutch member between the driver and thedisc having a coned periphery, a coil m spring to open the cone clutchand opposed spiral jaws between the driver and the clutch member,adapted to close the cone clutch.

3. In a drive mechanism for automobiles, the combination of a primemover, a main shaft, a clutch, bevel gear, an axle forming a singledrive shaft, a fluid coupling of the Fottinger type having driver andrunner members, a shaft coupled to a prime mover by a clutch, a sleeveJournalled on the shaft, the runner journalled on the shaft, the driversplined on the sleeve, a disc journalled on the sleeve having aconed'surface seeured to the runner, a bowled clutch member between thedisc and the driver having a coned periphery, a coil spring between thedisc and the clutch member, and opposed spiral Jaws on the driver andthe clutch member, adapted to close the cone clutch.

4. Drive mechanism for automobils eomprising an axle driven through aclutch frmn a prime 0 mover, wheels journalled on each end of the axle,gear boxes to each wheel journalled'about the axle, a fluid coupling ofthe Iottinger type having driver and runner members, the runner membersecured to the wheel, the driver member geared to the axle through a oneway clutch, reduction gear between the one way ch tch and the wheelmounted in each gear box, an overrunnlng clutch in the reduction gear,and a clutch between the driver member and the wheel. 7

canines E. s'rewan'r.

